We always thought that 30 year-old Liverpool holding midfielder Lucas Leiva would have been a good signing for us, but he’s now close to being sold.
News today that Rome club Lazio have agreed a fee of £5M with Liverpool for the Brazilian midfielder.
The deal has not gone through yet, but Sky Sports are reporting the fee has been agreed but personal terms have still to be agreed and then Lucas would need to pass a medical.
Lucas Leiva – close to signing for Lazio
Rafa Benitez signed Lucas for £5M in July of 2007 from Gremio and he has been at the club for 10 years now having played a total of 346 games with 7 goals and 21 assists.
We thought Lucas would have been a great buy for Newcastle and after 10 years at the club it had been thought the Liverpool club would let him leave as a free agent as a reward for his great service.
That would have allowed Lucas to negotiate a really good deal with his new club.
We’re not sure if Rafa was ever interested in signing the player, or whether he may have approached Lucas and the played did not want to come to Newcastle.
He would have given us great experience at the back and the 24 times capped Brazilian Intenrational could play in a number of different potions too.
Lucas also had a very good season last term for the Reds, playing 31 times – 24 of which came in the Premier League – and he scored one of his seven goals for the club – and yes – he went crazy.
Something that happened less than once a year at Liverpool.
But it looks like he’s gone.
Comments welcome.
112 comments so far
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:31 PM
Comment #81OT,
They also have Gueye, Besic, and a highly rated youngster (Davies I think) who can all play that central midfield role as well as Barry. Even Rooney could be used there. I’d say £18million is still a shade too high, but if it dropped to £15million and we could get £5million back for Colback, then I think it would be a good signing for us.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:32 PM
Comment #82OT,
Completely forgot about Schneiderlin as well!!
On Gibson, yes, very disappointing to see a 16 year old leave.
WWSBRD
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:33 PM
Comment #83Our Toon
But he’s one of our best prospects…apparently
jazzy/Lil
We probably don’t have much choice in him leaving unless he is on a professional contract lads…so am still not getting the upset here. We got far bigger issues in the squad than some kid signing
hibbit
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:34 PM
Comment #84ronaldo aarons
you’re quite right to be confident he hasn’t played LB in our first team or reserves , but that’s not what i said
GeordieTwo
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:34 PM
Comment #85Not keen on Barkley or McCarthy. They’ll both want huge wages. What about Hakan Calhonoglu? Or even Benson Trpntlsndlwyz (hope I have the spelling right)?
WWSBRD
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:36 PM
Comment #86Plus doesn’t every team in the land have one of the countries best prospects we’ve never heard of in their team? Means nothing
Adam Campbell, Remi Streete, Yven Mooy, Bigi, Curtis Good etc etc etc
GeordieTwo
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Comment #87And shame on you for not knowing about Gibson WWSBRD! We’ve all been aware of him on here for ages (possibly even years)! I remember him as a very promising twelve year old getting fish and chips and picking his nose…… Harrumph!!!
WWSBRD
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Comment #88Anyway flying visit…couldnt not have a chuckle at the losing money argument in all honesty haha
Have fun gang
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:39 PM
Comment #89WW,
You are right, we don’t have much option. His older brother is still with us, so given his high standing within the academy it is a shame to be losing him.
Of course we have more pressing issues prior to the season starting, but Rafa has talked of developing our own and building from the youth up. To lose one of our brightest prospects just a few days later is a bit of a kick in the nuts.
A big worry is that if our brightest prospects now view Everton as a big enough improvement for them, then we have serious issues there. I get Everton are doing well, and have money to spend now, but has outstanding amongst our own academy fallen sufficiently for players to want that move at such an early stage?
WWSBRD
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:40 PM
Comment #90GeordieTwo
Oh nose picking Gibson? Just clicked for me aye he’s the world’s best 16 year old possible LB
Never been more upset at NUFC now….WHAT IS GOING ON AT OUR CLUB?! RAFA OUT GIBSON IN!
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:40 PM
Comment #91It’s not about getting upset mate.
Everyone bangs on about Rafa has everything under control.
Yet he stated he wanted players in early… where are they??
He’s made a massive deal regarding bringing an under belly to the club ,Starting from within the Academy. And yet here we are letting our top young talent go.
If Nufc would have Gibson the right deal im sure we would have persuaded him to stay.
All hearsay granted but I don’t it sets a good precedent for the future of the club
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:41 PM
Comment #92See
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:41 PM
Comment #93*our standing
GeordieTwo
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:42 PM
Comment #94Well that’s all right then WWSBRD…… Just glad you remembered….. Harrumph!
ronaldo aarons
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:43 PM
Comment #95Hibbit
So I just asked where you’ve seen him play lb. I’ve followed him and never seen him play left back.
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:44 PM
Comment #96Hahaha yeah let’s all have a chuckle at losing Gibson to Everton.
Best thing for the club and all that eh
GeordieTwo
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:44 PM
Comment #97We need Benson Trpntwycsndlwyz!
hibbit
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:44 PM
Comment #98our toon
re gibsons it’s the older brother Liam who my get a chance this season not the 16 year old youth internatinal Lewis
WWSBRD@ 83
that comment will come back to bite you in 2/3 years time very very good footballer
GeordieTwo
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:45 PM
Comment #99I’m very upset about it actually jazzy. But he’s 16 with no professional contract. We would have to outbid Everton and they are throwing the cash around….. I think everyone would prefer him to be with us.
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:46 PM
Comment #100SDJ and Gayle starting.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:46 PM
Comment #101Ronaldo,
Pretty sure Sterry played left back whilst at Coventry once or twice, but I wouldn’t be view him as a player for there or be happy with him covering that for us.
hibbit
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:47 PM
Comment #102ronaldo aarons
under 16s under 18s under 21s not very often but has covered the position well when asked
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:48 PM
Comment #103Or maybe not!
ShirebrookToon
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:48 PM
Comment #104Wtf is going on at Newcastle United. Letting a top youngster go!
Starting to get a little pisssed off now!
Ron Knee
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:49 PM
Comment #105Return of De Jong tonight in starting XI Elliot, Clark, Lascelles (c), Mbemba, Haïdara, Aarons, Shelvey, Diamé, Atsu, De Jong, Gayle.
ronaldo aarons
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #106Lilongwe
I don’t remember him playing lb for them, must have missed it. I wouldn’t be confident in having him as cover for that position either. Just asked hibbit as he put sterry down as being able to provide cover.
Mister Tuff
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:53 PM
Comment #107Think someone mentioned this the other day aboiut the official site team section. Just had a look -all in Winga shirts. You would have thought they would have changed it by now to shirts with the new sponsors on.
Very poor if you ask me – they’re not even on the ball with the simple stuff on their site. Possible reflection of their attitude to other things.
jazzyp
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:53 PM
Comment #108G2
Steve Walsh was renowned for the youth development at Leicester. And now is doing the same thing at Everton.
Walsh has put together basically the English youth set up now, Including young Gibson.
This is something that I as an Englishman would be proud to have , An English core coming through at the club.
But hey ho our loss is Everton’s gain. Some care more than others
ronaldo aarons
Jul 14, 2017 at 6:55 PM
Comment #109Hibbit
Thanks, it’s good to know for future that’s all.
Jib
Jul 14, 2017 at 7:04 PM
Comment #110M’Bemba at RB !
The Wonga contract is until 31/July/2017
Jib
Jul 14, 2017 at 7:23 PM
Comment #111If people had half a brain they could probably work out that the Gibson game plan will probably involve further dealings between Everton and NUFC this window.
Jib
Jul 14, 2017 at 7:29 PM
Comment #112There is this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niISTc-jrSQ
Not holding me breath like